Labor Ministry Expresses Concern Over Tourism Staff Shortages

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Labour expressed concerns about personnel shortages in the tourism industry as Thailand continues to welcome more international travelers.

 

Permanent Secretary of Labor Boonchob Suttamanuswong stated that he has recently met with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), the Tourism Council of Phuket, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and related agencies to discuss labor shortages in the tourism industry.

 

According to Boonchob, THA has reported that while five-star hotels have enough manpower to welcome guests during the New Year holidays, the three-star and four-star hotels faced personnel shortages which affected their service operations. These agencies expressed their worry since labor shortage remains a big issue as foreign arrivals are increasing in the upcoming days.

 

Meanwhile, ATTA has expressed concerns about the lack of tour guides as foreigners continue to arrive in the country. The association proposed a legal change that would allow foreigners to work as tour guides to alleviate manpower shortages.

 

The permanent secretary stated that, in order to address the issue in the long-term situation, the Department of Skill Development will launch a program to upskill final-year undergraduates studying tourism and hospitality. The department will also work with businesses in the field to hire them upon graduation, providing businesses with skilled employees for the tourism industry.

 

The ministry recently conducted a survey on personnel shortages in the tourism industry and discovered that out of 32,359 businesses in 60 provinces, about 1,817 operators require workers for their businesses, totaling 9,763 people. Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phangnga, and Surat Thani are the top five provinces where workers are in short supply in the tourism industry. Employers are looking for receptionists, porters, waiters, cleaners and housemaids, cooks, kitchen staff, cashiers, and accountants.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230120110727973

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-01-20

 

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[ThailandRyan]

Just hire the illegal Chinese overstayers and overstaying Russians. Give them a free WP and a special visa.

[Will B Good]

Just wait until they start dropping like flies from covid.

[StayinThailand2much]

26 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Meanwhile, ATTA has expressed concerns about the lack of tour guides as foreigners continue to arrive in the country. 

Tour guides need to be fluent in (certain) foreign languages. So, how did foreign language education work out at Thai schools and universities over the past decades?

[mudcat]

Stop the rampant wage theft (paying less than minimum wage, violating work hours, late checks, and phony 'deductions).  Make it clear to the worker that they and their co-workers have the right to the 10% Service charges we the customers have been paying.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Labour expressed concerns about personnel shortages in the tourism industry as Thailand continues to welcome more international travelers.

There are enough unemployed in Thailand to fill every vacancy, maybe you should look at the wages being offered and working conditions..

Maybe that's why only migrants will take the slots.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Tour guides need to be fluent in (certain) foreign languages. So, how did foreign language education work out at Thai schools and universities over the past decades?

Tour guides for Russians were illegal Russian workers, those for Chinese were illegal Chinese workers.... that is how it worked last time. 

[jcmj]

I imagine 5 star resort/hotels are paying higher wages, therefore getting staffed more. If the others don’t pay more they will always be in this situation. They can also hire a few foreigners, which will cost more, but it’ll also increase their income and bookings. Nothing like going to a 3-4 star hotel and not get service. They will lose many future bookings. They need to start being more flexible with what jobs foreigners can do and they will definitely get more workers. You get what you pay for. Either nobody or <deleted> staff. 

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Tour guides for Russians were illegal Russian workers, those for Chinese were illegal Chinese workers.... that is how it worked last time. 

Ergo my comment above